A New York City cellist who was hit in the back of the head with a metal water bottle in a crowded subway station says he won’t return to performing until the Big Apple’s transit system provides better protections for musicians.
Ian Forrest, 29, said it was heartbreaking to have to make the decision to stop playing for commuters, but last week’s attack in midtown was the worst in the past year alone for cello players. He said the decision was necessary because it was the second time he had been assaulted while performing.
“Two attacks within a year is two too many.” he said in an Instagram post on Sunday.. “I’ve been beaten, I’ve been strangled, and now I’m being hit in the head.
“I love performing in front of you all on the subway, but I’ve reached my breaking point and can’t stand any more injury or harm,” he continued.
Forrest, a medical doctorate student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, said he was just one of many subway performers who were “attacked, harassed, and robbed” while trying to entertain fellow commuters. He pointed out that there was no.
He has now joined fellow musicians in the Subway Performers Advocacy Group (SPAG) to demand increased security at the city’s transit hubs.
“We’ve started a coalition of people calling for greater safety and protection for musicians who perform on the subway. The MTA and NYPD don’t track statistics on crimes against subway musicians,” Forrest said. Told.
“We need to change this so we know when, where and why these attacks occur so we can allocate police resources wisely to prevent them,” he added. Ta.
Forrest is one of hundreds of volunteers participating in the MTA’s Music Under New York program. The program schedules musicians to hold performances at transportation hubs around the city.
His latest appeal to curb subway violence comes as the NYPD’s City Crime Stoppers released new video of his assailant, which also shows his girlfriend. A clearer picture of his face was shown. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $3,500 for information leading to her arrest.
The attack occurred around 5:45 p.m. last Tuesday at the 34th Street Herald Square subway station, where the suspect hit Forrest in the back of the head with his own water bottle and fled.
The senseless assault was filmed by a fan recording Forrest’s performance, showing the musician writhing in pain as he clutched his head and instrument.
In a statement after the attack, the MTA said: “No transit rider, including musicians, should be subjected to violence. Once the NYPD catches the perpetrators of this senseless attack, they will be held accountable.” Stated.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
The public can also submit tips by logging on to . Crimestoppers website Or with X @NYPDTips.
